Peace River Set To Open New Regional Rec Centre

If you’re a resident of Peace River you’re probably well aware already of the challenges facing the current Baytex Energy Centre. It was announced recently that it would be far more feasible to replace the old arena and replace it with something new, which is what has been announced by the city of Peace River.

At its core the Peace Regional Recreation Centre will serve field and ice sports through a full-sized field house and a full sized hockey rink. In addition to the field house, the design will incorporate a running and walking track. As a community facility a large kitchen area is also being included in the design to facilitate community concession sales as well as other events requiring food prep.

Located near the current Baytex Energy Centre, the Peace Regional Recreation Centre will help solidify the north-end as a recreation hot spot, and will compliment the existing Peace Regional Pool. It will also ensure that running/walking sports as well as field sports have a year-round home at an indoor facility.

June to November 2016 – Design or concept phase
During this time the design of the facility will be fleshed out completely, it’s features and soft costs identified and ultimately budgeted for. Residents can expect a public update in the early fall with design drawings and schematics.
This period will include updates to stakeholders. That means members of the committee will be meeting with user groups, confirmed and potential as well as other impacted groups and businesses regarding the project.

Early 2017 – Tendering
By the end of the 2016 the budget and design will be finalized and signed off on. That will allow the permit and tendering process to begin in early 2017.

Spring 2017 – Begin Build
This stage is dependent on weather and conditions for a start date, however, ideally shovels would be in the ground for May of 2017.

Late 2018 – Complete Construction, open facility
Specific dates for the opening of the facility will be confirmed during the construction process, however, we anticipate about 18 months of construction.